Mada Khel

The Mada Khel is a Pakhtoon/Pashtoon/Pathan tribe. It is one of the division of Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe which is one of the most powerful, famous and respected tribe of Pashtoons. Colonel Wylly, Harold Carmichael, 1858-1932, has described these great people in just one sentence; leaving no space for further descriptions and definitions.^[1]

Origin

The Mada Khels are from the family of The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes. They are division of the Isazai clan of the great Yousafzai tribe.^[2] Mada Khels are the descendants of Mada the son of Isa (Isazai) and the grandson of Yusaf/Yousaf/(Yousafzai).^[3] The Mada Khels are further divided into four Sections; each Section having two or more Sub-sections.^[4]

Sections and sub-sections

Demographics

Mada Khels are among the dwellers on the Tor Ghar (Black Mountain). The Mada Khel country is on the northern slopes of the Mahaban Mountain down to the right bank of the Indus and is bounded on the north by the Hassanzais, on the east by the Indus, on the south and west by the Tanolis and Amazais. The Mada Khels are considered more enliohtened than the other Isazai tribesmen. Most of the villages are on the Mahaban Mountain, only two being on the banks of the Indus. The easiest approaches to Mada Khel territory pass through the Hassanzai territory.^[5] Few families migrated to Agror (Oghi) and Sangar village of Tehsil Balakot. These tribes claim their history from Takhat Bai Mardan and Allai Battagram.

Culture and traditions

Like all other Pashtoons, Mada Khels have maintained their cultural identity and individuality. They lead their lives strictly in accordance with code of ethics of Pashtoonwali which comprises Manliness, Goodness, Gallantery, Loyalty and Modesty. Mada Khels have also maintained the great Pashtoon customs of Jirga (Consultative Assembly), Nanawati (Delegation pleading guilty), Hujhra (Large drawing room) and Melmasteya (Hospitality).^[6]

Language

Pushto is the basic language of Mada Khels. Being away from the urban centres and less interaction with people from other languages, Mada Khels of Tor Ghar speak the purest form of Pushto. Due to migrations to other areas of Pakistan for better prospects of life and marriages in non-Pushtoon families, some Mada Khels have adopted other languages like Hindko and Urdu etc.

Recent developments

On 28 January 2011, Tor Ghar became the 25th district of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Judba is the Capital of this newly born district with following tehsils:-

• Judba.
• Kandar Hassanzai.
• Mada Khel.

Most of the Mada Khel areas come under the Mada Khel tehsil.

References